Multiple local media outlets reported Thursday that U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democrat whose district includes the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls, will not seek another term in office and will instead step down to accept a leadership role at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.

Both WIVB News Channel 4 and WBEN AM 930 in Buffalo reported, based on unnamed “sources,” that Higgins’ will move on from Congress to become president at Shea’s. WIVB reported it as a “done deal.” The television news station also reported that a formal announcement is expected to happen at a later date when Shea’s board members and Higgins are all available.

A source involved in local politics who declined to comment publicly confirmed late Thursday for the Niagara Gazette that the reports about Higgins’ pending departure from Congress were accurate.

Higgins and his long-time communications director Theresa Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment from the newspaper.

The 64-year-old Democrat has been a member of Congress since 2005. As the 26th District representative in the U.S. House, he has represented parts of Erie and Niagara Counties, including Buffalo, the Falls, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. He was re-elected to a two-year term in 2022 and has been instrumental in several high-profile redevelopment efforts in Western New York, including the development of Canalside in Buffalo with financial assistance from an agreement he helped broker with the New York Power Authority.